Over the course of his career,Spike Leehas proven to be one of the greatest American Filmmakers of our time. While his filmography isn’t as spotless as some of the other GOATs, his impact on the industry cannot be overstated. The political themes of films likeDo the Right ThingandBamboozledhave shed light on hard truths about race in America that have only become more relevant in the years since their release. His films exposed these ideas to a mainstream audience, and gave a voice to a community that was regularly ignored. His success carved a path for a new era of Black cinema that is continuing to this day with filmmakers like Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, and Boots Riley.
Many filmmakers tend to stick to a specific style of filmmaking, but Lee’s style constantly changes and evolves with each picture. While his films stick to similar themes of racial politics, media, and city life, the techniques he uses to tell these stories changes and varies between films. This has given his filmography an eclectic flair that makes revisiting his older films a fun and refreshing experience. With that in mind, here are his first 10 films, ranked from worst to best.
10Joe’s Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads
Joe’s Bed-Stuy Barbershopwas Lee’s masters thesis, and as expected with student films, it’s rough around the edges. The story revolves around a neighborhood, the same neighborhood asDo the Right Thing, but it fails to capture the lively feel of that film’s setting, and its characters aren’t nearly as compelling.
However, it’s still quite an accomplishment for a student film. If you can get past the low res footage, and humming audio, you’ll find some impressive shot composition and nice editing. It’s impressive that Lee would go from this to one of the best American films of all time in the span of a few short years.
9School Daze
School Dazeis a musical set in a Black-centric university, and revolves around a clash between the various students. It marks Lee’s first attempt at experimenting with musicals, something he would revisit later in his career with films likeMo' Better BluesandChiraq.
His inexperience with them shows with the films static shot compositions during the musical numbers vs. the more dynamic cinematography of most musicals. Thankfully, the film is saved by somegreat dance choreography, lively performances, and catchy songs.
Related:Here’s Why We Could watch Spike Lee’s Movies Forever
Girl 6is a comedy that follows a young woman in New York who takes a job as a phone sex operator. There’s a pretty odd cameo from Quentin Tarantino in this, which is surprising considering the two hadbeef with each otheraround this time. The film has a lot of style, great humor, and a killer soundtrack composed by Prince himself.
Unfortunately, the film loses momentum in the latter half, as it awkwardly attempts to transition into a thriller. There’s also an argument to be made about this film being problematic in how it handles women’s issues.
7Jungle Fever
Jungle Feveris another comedy from Lee, this time revolving around a love affair between a Black man and his white co-worker. It has some well constructed melodrama and the strong political themes that Lee is known for, but the romance isn’t fleshed out enough to feel like anything more than a vehicle for the director to comment on the racism that interracial couples experience.
It’s an impactful message for sure, but its lack of subtlety can make the film feel more like a PSA than a movie at times — something Lee has often been criticized for throughout his career. The ending of the film is also one of the most bizarre, shocking, and divisive endings Lee has ever made, with some people finding it unintentionally comical, and something that ruins an otherwise great film.
Clockersis a great crime drama that revolves around thecat and mouse chasebetween New York drug dealers and the NYPD. The film was ahead of its time, and criminally underrated. In a way, it feels like a precursor to the hit HBO seriesThe Wire, which makes sense when you consider the screenplay was written by Richard Price, one of the writers on the show.
The film was also produced by none other than Martin Scorsese, who’s no stranger to great crime dramas. The story presents us with a compelling murder mystery, as we’re left with the ambiguity of whether or not the protagonist Strike is responsible for the murder of a fast food manager. It’s a truly great piece of crime cinema, with some intense and heartbreaking moments.
5Mo’Better Blues
Shortly after completing what most people believe to be his masterpiece inDo the Right Thing, Lee suddenly went from being an unknown indie filmmaker to one the world’s most promising up-and-comers. Critics were eager to see what he would do next, and his follow-up film did not disappoint.
Mo’Better Bluesfollows a talented Trumpet playerplayed by Denzel Washington, as he struggles with the romance between two women and deals with his gambling addicted manager, played by Lee himself. This was Lee’s second attempt at playing with the musical formula, and it seems like he learned from the mistakes ofSchool Daze. The cinematography is so gorgeous and expressive, and it matches the expressive nature of jazz music. Unfortunately, Lee dabbles insome genuine antisemitismin the movie that’s tough to overlook, and could make the movie hard to recommend for some.
Crooklynis a heartfelt slice-of-life period drama about a Black family living in 1970s Brooklyn. It’s a semi-autobiographical film depicting Lee’s childhood, and as a result, feels like his most personal film. It has some incredible performances from Delroy Lindo and Alfre Woodard, who paint Lee’s parents with a humanity that’s utterly compelling. It also boasts some incredible camera work and a great soundtrack that immerses you in its 1970s setting. It’s a great coming of age story, and one of Lee’s best films ever.
3She’s Gotta Have It
While not his first film, this was Lee’s first major studio production, and is one hell of a directorial debut.She’s Gotta Have Itfollows the story of Nola Darling and her sexual encounters with three different men, all of whom attempt to control her by getting her to commit to a monogamous relationship. It’s a pretty progressive take on women sexuality for its time, and Nora’s refusal to be owned by these men naturally gives the film a strong feminist energy that’s refreshing to experience in this era of cinema.
You have to respect how Lee perfectly casts himself as the dorkiest and most annoying of the three love interests, creating the now-iconicNike Mascot Mars Blackmonin the process.She’s Gotta Have Itis a great directorial debut that showcases Spikes ability to create lively and compelling characters, and is the beginning of the style and thematic intention that would later make him a household name.
2Do the Right Thing
What’s there to say aboutDo the Right Thingthat hasn’t already been said? It’s one of the greatest films ever made, and has proven to be a true classic. It’s so colorful from its vibrant color palette to its cast of colorful characters. You spend the majority of the film getting to know the town and its people, each of them memorable in their own way. Then, you watch it all explode in a fiery finale when tragedy strikes. It’s a profoundly effective way to get your message across.
The film’s ending also stands as a litmus test of sorts. How people respond to it says a lot about who they are and the way they think. If you really want to know who’s down for the cause, show them this movie and observe.Do the Right THingis a visually beautiful film with a powerful message that unfortunately is as relevant to today as it was 30 years ago. There’s a very strong argument for it being Lee’s absolute best.
Related:Why Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing Still Matters
1Malcolm X
Do the Right Thingis a masterpiece, butMalcolm Xfeels like Lee’s true Magnum Opus, one where everybody involved gave their best work, and not a single element was compromised. Lee knew how important of a project this was, and tackled it to the absolute peak of his ability. The direction has a cinematic energy that rivals the likes of modern blockbusters likeOppenheimer.
Denzel Washington gives the best performance of his entire career as the street hustler turned civil rights leader, and he imbues Malcolm’s journey with all the pain and struggle that the real Malcolm X likely had to endure. Despiterunning over three hours, the film feels perfectly paced, and the runtime flies by. It’s a true classic American film, and should be essential viewing for every American.
